Jessica Poirier of Sturgeon County, a second-year millwright apprentice at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, says the $1,000 scholarship that helped pay for her training took “a huge weight off my shoulders.” [

Photograph by: Jason Franson
, Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - Receiving a scholarship to help fund her apprenticeship was a relief for 18-year-old Jessica Poirier.

The scholarships fall under the categories of AAIT, top apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, RAP and Career and Technology Studies (CTS) Apprenticeship Pathways.

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must be Alberta residents who have taken apprenticeship technical training in the last year and have at least one period of technical training remaining, or have successfully completed a recognized pre-apprenticeship program. Other factors, such as academic background, trade preference and gender, may influence the decision to award a scholarship.

Scholarships are generally for $1,000 — usually enough to cover tuition and materials — or $1,500 for top apprentices. If employers cover tuition, the scholarship can assist with living expenses and other needs that arise.

Support also exists for students, such as Poirier, who have had a head-start in their apprenticeship through RAP, which is offered in high school. RAP and CTS Apprenticeship Pathways scholarships recognize the accomplishments of Alberta high-school students participating in RAP.

The scholarships encourage students to continue their apprenticeship training after completing high school.

There are 500 RAP/CTS scholarships of $1,000 available each year. In 2011, 246 RAP scholarships were awarded. In 2012, the program was extended to include students who complete a CTS Apprentice Pathway, which is a defined cluster of course work and requirements that give students the equivalent of their first period of technical training.

To commemorate the scholarship awards, Careers: the Next Generation hosts an annual event for all scholarship recipients in Alberta.

Last year’s banquet set an attendance record with 96 recipients, said marketing co-ordinator Amanda Lathrop. Poirier was the keynote speaker at the November 2012 event held in Edmonton.

Poirier also goes around to high schools, speaking as an advocate for the scholarship program.

“My message to students is: ‘Don’t overlook this amazing opportunity to have your education funded while you train in a trade,’ ” said Poirier from her parents’ home in Sturgeon County.

Poirier’s father is also a millwright, which is an industrial mechanic who services machines, such as turbines, compressors and pumps.

“In high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and thought what dad does seemed good,” said Poirier, who admits she has an aptitude for the work — physical strength and good mechanical instincts.

Poirier began her apprenticeship working at the University of Alberta and will be starting a new job with Pro-Line in the new year. Second-year apprentice millwrights earn between $24 and $27 per hour on average.

“My boyfriend and I are hoping to buy an acreage in Sturgeon County soon,” said Poirier. “Job stability helps. I’m going to continue my apprenticeship and continue to promote the scholarships to students because it can make all the difference between deciding on a trade and not.”

Jessica Poirier of Sturgeon County, a second-year millwright apprentice at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, says the $1,000 scholarship that helped pay for her training took “a huge weight off my shoulders.” [